Denzel Washington's Hannibal Project at Netflix Faces Major Roadblock

Denzel Washington has long been attached to star as the Carthaginian general Hannibal in a new Netflix production, but the untitled project has hit a snag. In development since 2023, it had been expected to move toward production after earlier reports that filming was being eyed in Italy; now one of Washington’s biggest upcoming projects is no longer charging ahead as smoothly as expected.

On paper the movie looked like a slam dunk — ancient warfare, elephants and a return to Rome — but the road has proved bumpier than hoped. The screenplay comes from John Logan, whose credits include Gladiator, The Aviator, Skyfall and Hugo. Washington and his longtime collaborator Antoine Fuqua are producing alongside Erik Olsen and Adam Goldworm.

Washington and Fuqua have teamed on five films, including Training Day, which earned Washington an Oscar, and the commercially consistent Equalizer trilogy, each of which landed around $190 million worldwide. Their 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven grossed around $162 million.

Italy

denzel washington, hannibal, netflix, john logan, antoine fuqua, training day, equalizer trilogy, magnificent seven, elephants, italy